SuperBowlBound

Covered it in this thread. Mike Lombardi had this last Thursday.

Lombardi had it last Thursday.

I'm certainly in the camp that Rhule had most of the say but I'm not absolving Fitterer of anything. Frankly, the drafts have stunk. That's on everybody in the offices on Mint St.

Lombardi is plugged in around the league. His son was on staff last year but isn't no longer. Take what he said (along with anybody else) with a grain of salt this time of year. Thought I'd share though. The thing that's really bothersome about the Corral pick is the Panthers gave up a future 3rd to get him. If he's the guy, no big whoop. But a top 90 pick is a premium pick. Was that Rhule? Seems like it - Fitterer & the FO better start hitting on some picks.

On his GM Shuffle podcast today, Mike Lombardi was talking about teams saying they weren't interested in Lamar Jackson and the Panthers came up. Around the 29:35 mark, Lombardi says: "[Since] Tepper has owned the Panthers, all he's cared about is trying to find a franchise quarterback and now you're telling me he's not interested in Lamar? Maybe Frank Reich doesn't want Lamar, doesn't want to run that offense. I get that. But you know they're interested in every quarterback. Look, last year they drafted Matt Corral - okay - they drafted Matt Corral, supposed to save their franchise - they're trying to trade Matt Corral now. You can have Matt Corral now for a ham sandwich." Right after that he mentioned the Panthers getting rid of players Rhule brought in with the exception of Horn. Also mentioned they aren't interested in resigning Sam Darnold. Interesting couple of minutes. The time it starts may vary based on how you listen to your podcast. Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jets-fly-out-to-aaron-rodgers-daniel-jones-signs-%24160m/id1458884463?i=1000603483736

Look at the Eagles, they constantly invest in the offensive & defensive lines. They’ve made mistakes in the past but they move on quickly when they make a mistake and don’t double down on them.

The only people that believe Fields is an All-Pro caliber QB are those in the fantasy football community because he puts up rushing statistics. He hasn’t evolved as a passer. Mitch Trubisky had better passing numbers than him at this point. Yes, his weapons stink but he hasn’t shown any capability of making the throws required to be a decent QB. He hasn’t comprehended what an open window is in the NFL. No, don’t trade for this guy.

I understand some are angry that Wilks didn't get the job. Remember, Tepper said he'd be in consideration if he did "an incredible job." Last I checked, 6-6 is average. In context, yes, Wilks did good damn work with what he was given. Additionally, Tepper let Wilks run the team as he saw fit and did not interfere. For Wilks, it boiled down to the Tampa game. He didn't get it done. He got conservative - as most defensive minded head coaches do - on 4th & 1 when it was clear you needed to score points to win that game. The Panthers also came out flat in some games, they were not consistent. A lot of the Wilks love stems from the fact he is from Charlotte and has been part of the Panthers when they were successful. He also brought an identity to the team. 6-6 was accepted with just how incompetent Rhule was. I'm far from a Tepper apologist, the dude has made plenty of mistakes. But - Reich is a proven head coach in this league. Since their inception, the Panthers have had a top 10 scoring offense 6 times (96/99/05/08/11/15). In four full seasons at the helm in Indy (not counting this year), Reich had that 3 times. This isn't yesteryear's NFL. Yes, you still need to have an effective run game and competent defense. But you have to be able to score points. The rules have literally been changed to favor the offense. Offense is more consistent year to year than defense is. 18 of the last 20 teams to reach the conference championship game (including all 4 this year) have offensive minded head coaches. The Panthers have to get with the times. This is a step in that direction. Will it work? Time will tell. I do think it's a bit ridiculous that people are ridiculing Reich, a proven head coach, when many had optimism for the snake oil salesman that pretended to be a football coach.

Totally agree - the Daniel Snyder vibes are strong with him & this would cement it for me as well.

I've long thought that Tepper is the second coming of Daniel Snyder (in terms of football ineptitude) - still feel that way at this moment. If this thing gets botched again - I've already accepted that the Panthers will likely be irrelevant for the next 2-3 decades (as long as he owns the team).

From a pure passer perspective - Young is clear and away tops in the class. But man - it's hard for me to get over his build. That was my main concern on Tua coming out. My concern with Stroud is can he learn to identify what open windows are in the NFL. No matter who the QB is - the coaching hire will be instrumental. Urban Meyer nearly ruined Trevor Lawrence. That's why I'm not opposed to Frank Reich if the Panthers opt for a young QB. We'll see what happens.

I think you need to be smart with the former head coach you choose to be on your staff. For example: Dan Campbell originally hired former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn (a horrendous HC) to be his OC. Campbell stripped him of playcalling duties and fired him after 1 year. Fangio wasn't the best HC but is a stud DC.

There's some strange stuff happening in Baltimore - I honestly would not be surprised if they fired the entire coaching staff, Harbaugh included. But yeah - Jackson is gone. It'll be a tag & trade.

I'm about 90% sure he's going back to Ohio State - the smoke has been there for a few days now.

Bears should take Bryce Young - he can pass the football unlike Fields.

He has completely ignored trying to run the ball during this skid. Tua is vastly overhyped and the entire organization has been hellbent on proving that they didn't make a mistake by taking him over Herbert. Watch that Dolphins/Chargers game & Dolphins/Packers game. The Chargers are abysmal defending the run yet they continued to try to pass the ball all over the field to prove they were right on Tua/Herbert. They were ripping big runs in the Packers game but stopped. McDaniel is okay - all Twitter analytic truthers always say these guys are geniuses. You have to watch the games and not take the word of some "nfl expert" on social media. McDaniel is a poor head coach, he's more concerned about calling plays. There's a difference between a head coach and a playcaller. I'm not advocating for him to get fired after one season, but if he did, I do get it based on what has transpired. Then again, Stephen Ross is a complete putz like the guy that owns the team here, so whatever decision he makes is likely wrong.

Tepper definitely gives me Daniel Snyder vibes (in terms of destroying a franchise & a fan base - not the countless other things he has been accused of)

Harbaugh already worked in a dumpster fire environment with the setup between himself/Trent Baalke/Jed York in San Francisco - can’t imagine he’d put up Tepper’s nonsense. Until he proves otherwise, he’s a bottom tier owner.

Chicago will be taking a QB at 2. Their QB situation is worse than the Panthers. Justin Fields can’t throw the ball. QBs have to throw the ball. I’ll certainly acknowledge his situation sucks, but Fields is horrendous. Panthers have made plenty of mistakes, but passing on Fields was the right call.

McDaniels is going a nice job. They only got their asses kicked in 1 game at New Orleans (Adams was extremely sick for that one). Otherwise, they've been in every game. That roster isn't that great, Gruden/Mayock were horrendous, especially with their first round picks. As far as Wilks getting the job here, he has to win out and get to the playoffs.

I've said it before but anytime I think of this unaccountable snake - I think of what Mike tells Carlo at the end of The Godfather.... "Only don't tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry." Yet he CHOOSES to continue to insult our intelligence. Have fun in Nebraska - better watch your cornhole if the losing brand follows you out there (it will).

Deadspin is still a thing? People still read that incoherent drivel?

Hackett is in the running for worst coaching hire of all time. Rhule was bad - but what we're seeing over there is next level ineptitude. Screw Denver.

I truly believe Russ will be the first QB in NFL history to get beat up by his teammates during the course of a NFL game on the sidelines. You have to be genuine as a leader and he's one of the phoniest people ever based on everything you read and hear.